Hi, I went out to my bird room this morning and found that a baby in 1 of my nests (about 5 days old) Has been pushed aside. He was very pale and cold and his crop empty. I brang him inside to warm him up and noticed that his legs are splayed which I will fix. My question is can I use "egg and biscuit mix" to hand rear him until I'm able to get into town tomorrow to get the real hand rearing formula?

Egg and biscuit is too "grainy" however if you have local shops you can use the Heinz baby cereal ( dry mix mixed to consistency )...there is a multigrain one that is good. I fnot the Heinz one use FAREX. 5 days may be too soon to decide a baby is splay legged, they often look that way if they have been laying on their backs and not fed, white and pasty. get him warm first, and put some calcivet in the formula you feed him.

Libby on this forum has a topic on making your own hand rearing formula. I've also used plain yoghurt as a saver until I could get some hand rearing mix. I've also been told honey or calcivet can be added to the babies beak to give him energy. So yeah, Try some plain yoghurt if you are unable to get any hand rear mix.

Babies all look splayed until they are old enough to carry their own weight and start walking around. Dont be so hasty to treat what may not be present. Granted there may be real cause for concern, but i think its too early to tell and far too early to treat for splayed legs.

Libby on this forum has a topic on making your own hand rearing formula. I've also used plain yoghurt as a saver until I could get some hand rearing mix. I've also been told honey or calcivet can be added to the babies beak to give him energy. So yeah, Try some plain yoghurt if you are unable to get any hand rear mix.

Yoghurt is fine for a newly hatched but 5 days old needs something more substantial.

What about weetbix?Also, when I fed the chick before the crop seemed to fill with a lot of air, is this normal?

What about weetbix?Also, when I fed the chick before the crop seemed to fill with a lot of air, is this normal?

It fills with air more if the mixture is too thick...make it runnier.

okay I will do, thanks for that

I went to my pet shop today to get some hand rearing formula and they alson tried to sell me some calcium syrup by the Australian Pigeon Company, is this okay to use as a calcium sup?

I went to my pet shop today to get some hand rearing formula and they alson tried to sell me some calcium syrup by the Australian Pigeon Company, is this okay to use as a calcium sup?

Yes....keeping calcium syrup is a MUST when you have birds.

So even though it's ment for pigeons it's okay to give to budgies?

I have another question (I have alot sorry) Do I need to wait for the chicks crop to empty before giving it it's next feed? He seems to be hungry all the time and cheeps alot for a feed!

So even though it's ment for pigeons it's okay to give to budgies?

Yes.